Overview

The Excelsior 5-Speed Mini Lathe can turn bowls of almost 10" in diameter and spindles up to 17-3/4" in length, making it perfect for chair legs, small table legs and an endless array of decorative turnings. A convenient door provides easy access to the belt, along with 5 different speeds: 760, 1100, 1600, 2200 and 3200 RPM. Cast-iron body provides mass for minimal vibration, stable turning and maximum durability.

My husband does woodworking as a hobby. He has a lot of Laguna tools etc, but he's been talking about a lathe for a while. I'm not entirely certain if I purchased the right one or not, but I thought it would be a good Christmas present for him this year.

My husband does woodworking as a hobby. He has a lot of Laguna tools etc, but he's been talking about a lathe for a while. I'm not entirely certain if I purchased the right one or not, but I thought it would be a good Christmas present for him this year.

Can anyone compare this lathe to the Proxxon? With this lathe on sale, they are essentially the same price shipped. Thanks!

A shopper
on May 24, 2015

BEST ANSWER:I am new to Lathing. I bought the Excelsior Lathe for pen making. I have made several pens now and the Excelsior worked well right out of the box. The Tail stock and the spur or mandrel lined up right away. I was turning without adjustments right away. I have not used the Proxxon but am very happy with the Excelsior,.

BEST ANSWER:I am new to Lathing. I bought the Excelsior Lathe for pen making. I have made several pens now and the Excelsior worked well right out of the box. The Tail stock and the spur or mandrel lined up right away. I was turning without adjustments right away. I have not used the Proxxon but am very happy with the Excelsior,.

BEST ANSWER:Any chuck would work as long as is has a 1" 8 TPI.I would recommend the Nova G3 Comet II Reversible Chuck Item #: 44597 After installing the jaws on it, you can screw it onto your lathe and start turning

BEST ANSWER:Any chuck would work as long as is has a 1" 8 TPI.I would recommend the Nova G3 Comet II Reversible Chuck Item #: 44597 After installing the jaws on it, you can screw it onto your lathe and start turning

If you mean to make the spindle spin in the opposite direction: I don't think the motor is electrically reversible. If you mean can the head be rotated so the face plate faces out: I don't think it is intended to do that. You would have to unbolt the head (4 bolts) from the bed and reassemble spindle facing out. You might also have to flip the pulley on the motor shaft to make the pulleys line up for different speeds.

BEST ANSWER:Yes, it has a tool rest, drive center in the head stock and a center in the tail stock. All you need to add is the turning tools and you are set to go. It does not come with a chuch, but if you watch, you can pick them up on sale.

BEST ANSWER:Yes, it has a tool rest, drive center in the head stock and a center in the tail stock. All you need to add is the turning tools and you are set to go. It does not come with a chuch, but if you watch, you can pick them up on sale.

It comes with both a screw on plate and a #2 morse taper chuck for the head stock, a live center for the tailstock and a tool rest. It also has a tool for knocking the #2 Morse taper out of the headstock.

Can you recommend an appropriate chisel set for this lathe? I'm a complete beginner, more interested in small bowls than in pens.

A shopper
on Apr 24, 2015

BEST ANSWER:In my opinion so far, these Rockler carbide turning tools are ideal for a beginner like myself. I got them on sale recently which was great! The best part is that I never have to worry about sharpening, as the cutter heads have multiple cutting surfaces you can rotate through before eventually just replacing the tip. Carbide is built to last, so I'm not concerned about having to replace the tips very often at all, but time will tell. Lots of good tools out there I'm sure, but these are great.

BEST ANSWER:In my opinion so far, these Rockler carbide turning tools are ideal for a beginner like myself. I got them on sale recently which was great! The best part is that I never have to worry about sharpening, as the cutter heads have multiple cutting surfaces you can rotate through before eventually just replacing the tip. Carbide is built to last, so I'm not concerned about having to replace the tips very often at all, but time will tell. Lots of good tools out there I'm sure, but these are great.

Harbor Frieght has a couple sets, get the $80 set, not the $20 one from them if you buy one from them. You want to get High Speed Steel tools. PSI sells Benjamens Best tools at a reasonable price, and Grizzly has their onw Shop Fox line that are pretty good. I would not recomend getting any tool with someones name on it, as they will cost a huge amount of money for some one just starting out.

I'm in the same boat as you, I'm a beginner and interested in turning small bowls and Duck Calls. I purchased the Sorby's intermediate set that's rather expensive ($299) and an inexpensive one at Harbor Freight for $79. I would suggest the Harbor Freight 8 pc set to start off with. The Sorby's set is well made and very heavy duty, but for a beginner, I'm thinking overkill. I will get a lot of use from both kits in the future, I'm sure.

I'm just turning my first bowl with my new Rockler lathe and love it. Learning the appropriate speeds to turn with is interesting but I'll figure it out shortly. I should have chosen an easier wood to turn than Pecan, as it is very hard wood, but I have plenty of it.

Learning to sharpen your tools effectively is more important than what tools you buy, in my opinion. High Speed Steel (will say HSS on the tool) will hold an edge longer and will withstand heat from grinding better while you are learning to sharpen and turn, so they are a good investment, but I would suggest spending your money on a low speed grinder or some kind of sharpening set up rather than investing in high dollar gouges and skews. Sharp tools make all the difference. Carbide tools are nice, too, but not necessarily useful for every situation. I have the Rockler 3 carbide mini tool set and use them often, but there are times where they don't work or are too big for the cut I need to make. They're great for turning pens, though.

Good question. I haven't tried using an external controller like this for varying the lathe speed. I don't want to say it won't work, but just the name of the controller seems to imply it isn't designed to be used with anything other than a router that fits within the parameters of the controller.

I would like to turn vessels, specifically urns at the maximum size which I guess is 10." I wouldn't be able to turn something that big because of the banjo, so is there a way that I could use a tool rest not attached to the lathe? Can this lathe handle something that size?

BEST ANSWER:I have not tried to turn anything larger than 8" and that was tough because of the banjo size. I have heard of after market products such as you are leaning towards. Myself, I would not want to try something free standing because of potential movement. I hope this has helped.

BEST ANSWER:I have not tried to turn anything larger than 8" and that was tough because of the banjo size. I have heard of after market products such as you are leaning towards. Myself, I would not want to try something free standing because of potential movement. I hope this has helped.

BEST ANSWER:I've noticed that using mine for extended periods of time will also leave the outside of the motor shield being hot as well. I haven't noticed any change in how well the machine works and I would imagine there is very little insulation to prevent the motor from heating up the outside of the motor cover. Just to be safe, I will occasionally brush any saw dust or shavings off of the top of the motor as they tend to bunch up right on top.

BEST ANSWER:I've noticed that using mine for extended periods of time will also leave the outside of the motor shield being hot as well. I haven't noticed any change in how well the machine works and I would imagine there is very little insulation to prevent the motor from heating up the outside of the motor cover. Just to be safe, I will occasionally brush any saw dust or shavings off of the top of the motor as they tend to bunch up right on top.

BEST ANSWER:Jim, there is not supposed to be any play in the headstock. I had trouble with the lathe I bought, and when Rocker sent me used parts to fix it, I returded the lathe. There were many problems with the lathe and worse problems with their customer service. I got the same lathe for less money at Harbor Freight, and have been very happy with it.

BEST ANSWER:Jim, there is not supposed to be any play in the headstock. I had trouble with the lathe I bought, and when Rocker sent me used parts to fix it, I returded the lathe. There were many problems with the lathe and worse problems with their customer service. I got the same lathe for less money at Harbor Freight, and have been very happy with it.

BEST ANSWER:Yes,these fit with the Nova G3 Insert Chuck and a 1 inch, 8tpi adapter. Alternatively, the Nova G3 Comet II Reversible Chuck, which comes with 1" 8-TPI RH/LH threading. Separately sold step Jaws comes with the necessary screws to attach to these chucks. I have used these jaws on both of the chucks mentioned above, on the Excelsior. They worked perfectly!!!

BEST ANSWER:Yes,these fit with the Nova G3 Insert Chuck and a 1 inch, 8tpi adapter. Alternatively, the Nova G3 Comet II Reversible Chuck, which comes with 1" 8-TPI RH/LH threading. Separately sold step Jaws comes with the necessary screws to attach to these chucks. I have used these jaws on both of the chucks mentioned above, on the Excelsior. They worked perfectly!!!

I do not have the Excelsior mini lathe but I use the step jaws with a Nova Midi chuck on a Jet Mini lathe which looks to be very similar size (14 inches between centers, 5 inches from center to lathe bed).Works well for gripping small stock with internal jaws and external jaws are ideal for pepper / salt mills etc.Hope this helps.

It fits Nova Mini, G3, or SN2 chucks, Record Power Chucks, and I think, the Apprentice chuck. If you have one of them for your lathe then this will work. The excelsior has 8 tpi x1" spindle and pretty much all chuck manufacturers have chucks/adapters that will fit it. Due to the small motor I would recommend the Mini or G3 (or equal).

BEST ANSWER:Not sure if you mean the 8 tpi head or not, but there is a live center in the tailstock. What I have used for a Jacobs chuck (drill chuck) is one that threads onto the 8 tpi headstock with reasonable success. There are other Jacobs chucks for the tailstock, but it would be stationary instead of turning like the one that threads onto the head.

BEST ANSWER:Not sure if you mean the 8 tpi head or not, but there is a live center in the tailstock. What I have used for a Jacobs chuck (drill chuck) is one that threads onto the 8 tpi headstock with reasonable success. There are other Jacobs chucks for the tailstock, but it would be stationary instead of turning like the one that threads onto the head.

Ok...don't judge. A magazine of kids tools had a lathe for $60 with 'kids safety precautions' but we would rather buy the real tool that is sturdier and will last longer for our kids. Any comments on safety features (will be used supervised) and the other Items we need to buy to put it to use? My daughter cannot wait to make a pen! Thanks!

This tool is only as safe as the user. There is a lot of stored energy in the rotating parts. Used properly it is safe. With dedicated hands on supervision (don't take your eyes off their hands) I helped my granddaughters make pens. Ages 7 & 9. Use eye protection and a dust mask. Watch for loose clothing, hair, jewelry. Eliminate everything which can be caught up in or on the rotating parts. Watch carefully the fingers. Make several pens yourself before helping a youngster.

Dan, thanks- very helpful. The girls are 8 and have done some woodworking but I know they will need to have on their best listening ears in addition to their hair pulled back. What kind of dust mask did you use?

As with any power tool,safety always comes first. there aren't any special safety items on this lathe. it is one of the simpler tools to use. it is ideal for turning pens and other small items. The wood can still fly off if being used too aggressively or not properly mounted. it is a sturdy piece of equipment and a good one start with.

I have been using this lathe for several months turning small bowls and wine stoppers'. I really like the performance but am concerned by how hot the motor gets in a very short period of time. So hot you really can not touch the motor casing. Is this normal?

I visited my local Rockler Store to discuss my concerns over the of the excessive overheating of my Excelsior Lathe. They were very good to deal with and replaced my lathe w a new one. Another example of why I purchase from Rockler!

The instruction manual is so basic it does not tell you where to put the belt for what speed. If you are looking at the lathe and the belt is farthest to the left is that fast or slow? The pulley on the motor is five sizes - which is slowest? Thank you.

From the back of the lathe the pulley on the head stock is fast the large pulley is the slowest. It seems the ma ual shows the lower pulley attached to the motor. see page one. I would suggest you check this out without stock on the lathe. Dan

I have never owned or even used a lathe but plan to get started in making rings and ink pens. I was told when buying a mini lathe I would be sure to get one that can use a chuck for drill bits. Will this model accept a chuck for drill bits?

BEST ANSWER:Yes it will. You will need to buy a #2 Morse taper and chuck. I use my a lot on the tailstock for drilling and it works very well. Just remember to pull back to help remove material when using.

BEST ANSWER:Yes it will. You will need to buy a #2 Morse taper and chuck. I use my a lot on the tailstock for drilling and it works very well. Just remember to pull back to help remove material when using.

BEST ANSWER:Yes. up to an 8" diameter. You might be able to turn a 9" bowl if you knock off the corners of your blank. Also if your interested in this lathe, check into the extension piece to be able to turn longer pieces such as legs. I am pleased with this lathe. The only drawback to this one is in changing speeds.

BEST ANSWER:Yes. up to an 8" diameter. You might be able to turn a 9" bowl if you knock off the corners of your blank. Also if your interested in this lathe, check into the extension piece to be able to turn longer pieces such as legs. I am pleased with this lathe. The only drawback to this one is in changing speeds.

BEST ANSWER:Hi MadonnaYes there is a short video that you can watch on the Rockler internet web site catalog. It is in the Excelsier lathe section. I also found more video on utube. I also bought a Tenon chuck plus the accessories that go with it. Plus I purchased th mini carbide lathe tools.ii I had not worked with turning wood projects since high school, it took a few tries to become comfortable with the mini lathe. My goal is to be able to turn chess pieces. Hope this helps. A Rockler associate can help the purchase of the correct mini chuck if you want to purchase one. They were helpful to me.Good luck

I'm still debating buying this mini lathe. The grandson is 15, wants one, and he is deaf. He can read just fine, but couldn't hear the video, so he has to use his eyes, and do the ol' trial and error system of learning. Can get expensive. Then there's what if???? may be just a lark, the 'wanna' thing. I looked at one at Habor Freight, same exact price, same specs, not as nice looking as the Excelsior. Thanks for your input.

BEST ANSWER:Hi MadonnaYes there is a short video that you can watch on the Rockler internet web site catalog. It is in the Excelsier lathe section. I also found more video on utube. I also bought a Tenon chuck plus the accessories that go with it. Plus I purchased th mini carbide lathe tools.ii I had not worked with turning wood projects since high school, it took a few tries to become comfortable with the mini lathe. My goal is to be able to turn chess pieces. Hope this helps. A Rockler associate can help the purchase of the correct mini chuck if you want to purchase one. They were helpful to me.Good luck

I'm still debating buying this mini lathe. The grandson is 15, wants one, and he is deaf. He can read just fine, but couldn't hear the video, so he has to use his eyes, and do the ol' trial and error system of learning. Can get expensive. Then there's what if???? may be just a lark, the 'wanna' thing. I looked at one at Habor Freight, same exact price, same specs, not as nice looking as the Excelsior. Thanks for your input.

I don't believe Rockler has any kind of tutorial video for this lathe, but you will easily find information related to this lathe and how to operate it on youtube and several forums on the internet. All of the operation of this lathe, including the changing of belts is pretty straight forward and simple.

I want to buy a chuck for the lathe like the Nova G3 chuck, what size attachment do I need to connect the chuck to the lathe? Also, would I would like to equip the lathe with a drill chuck at the tail stock; do I need a # 1 or a # 2 MT?

BEST ANSWER:you should be looking for a duplicator that can handle a 10" swing. The one we sell is only for 12" to 16" swing. I would suggest a google search. If you have ever read ShopNotes. I believe that last year they had and article on making your own duplicator.

Ok...I found one on Google with a 10" swing for a Jet but it's on a Jet mini lathe. I don't know if this one will work or not, but if I have the Excelsior Bed Extension....wouldn't that allow me to use a 12"-16" swing? I'm not sure what you mean by "swing".

BEST ANSWER:you should be looking for a duplicator that can handle a 10" swing. The one we sell is only for 12" to 16" swing. I would suggest a google search. If you have ever read ShopNotes. I believe that last year they had and article on making your own duplicator.

Ok...I found one on Google with a 10" swing for a Jet but it's on a Jet mini lathe. I don't know if this one will work or not, but if I have the Excelsior Bed Extension....wouldn't that allow me to use a 12"-16" swing? I'm not sure what you mean by "swing".

Reviews

Being a beginner never turned wood in my life I just could not bring myself to pay for a top of the line lathe so I bought the Excelsior. One of my few good decisions. I have had this almost a year now. Turning pens, handles etc. A bowl is my next project. No problems with it at all so far. When I unpacked it I found, like others, the instructions were tedius and not worth much. The first thing I did was to put centers in both sides. The points lined up almost perfectly. Checked a piece of ground rod in a collet and it was running almost perfect. Put a center in the tailstock and the rod. Made a very slight adjustment and it was dead on. For a beginner like myself, I find this to do everything I expected it to do and more as I explore new projects.

I had read the reviews before ordering this lathe so I knew it would be a competent product. After receiving it I can say I was not in the least disappointed! The drive spindle has zero play, as does the end spindle. The spur drive insert and the live-center end spindle have a fit and finish as good as anyone would expect. I've used this lathe at the lowest speed for roughing and at the medium speed of 1600 RPM and found it to be virtually free of vibration. It's a solidly built, though very basic, lathe with the required precision built in, but without unnecessary cosmetic embellishments. I would recommend this lathe to anyone requiring a competent machine, but who doesn't want to spend more than necessary.

I am a beginner at using a lathe. I am very happy with the Excelsior Mini Lathe. Very quiet and no vibration. I have done several small projects using maple, red bud, pine, and seasoned locust. I purchased the bed extension and am in the process of turning a 28" long table lag, no problems with the motor getting hot or the tail stock slipping. I am going to buy a spare belt, and I need a centering device to hold long narrow projects like making a cane. It's a great lathe and you can't beat the price.

I have had this lathe for over a year. I have really been turning pens with some bowls and other things like table legs. It has done the job and for the price it is perfect. I have turned over 50 pens plus other items and it has worked great. I have not tried to adjust anything other than the speed belt but was able to do what I needed.

This is my first experience using a lathe and the Excelsior fits my needs exactly. I only make small projects, (pens, bottle stops, light pulls, etc). Next project is a small bowl. This machine is very sturdy and performs perfectly. The manual is not real detailed but enough to get started. You'll need instructions specific for your projects anyway, lots of resources online for free. I'm more than happy.

I purchased this on sale and looked to be a good stout little lathe. All was fine for two weeks of minimal use. The motor heated up quick. I made 5 pens. On the sixth pen the motor went POOF! and a small wisp of smoke arose. I guess it gave up as it never ran again. I returned it to Rockler with no problems.

Received this lathe for Christmas! it was extremely easy to set up right from the box. Came with 6in tool rest, 3in faceplate, spur and live centers, in addition to setup tools. &quot;Instruction manual&quot; is only a parts list with warnings, as stated - in fact, ignore section IV &quot;Adjusting the main spindle speed&quot;, its dead wrong! or the price $150 on sale and class of tool, I'd have rated 5 stars if there was an actual manual.Finish and tolerance of parts is good, and minor cleanup is required as stated in other posts - I used fine steel wool and WD40 to remove oil/cosmoline from exposed metal surfaces, and used paste wax to protect! also sanded the paint from the top of the tool rest.Mine ran true and very smooth on some initial small spindle turning, no vibration, and its heavy enough that when placed on my workbench without further hold-downs there was no shaking or walking. Appreciate that head and tail stock are Morse Taper #2, so lots of options for chucks, etc., and bed extension is available.Looking forward to several years of performance from this tool, and would recommend, especially at the sale price.

I have had this lathe for about three years now and I'm very happy with it. I am a blind veteran and I find people here complain about &quot;how hard it is to change the speeds because you can't see the belt pulleys&quot;. Folks all you have to do is use your hands and count, there are only five pulleys just make sure it the belt is on the first one on the right at the bottom you set the top to the same count of pulley don't worry about the size difference. I use it to make pens, tool handles, bowls and even small baseball bats for trophies. /p>

I am a novice turner. This is a quality lathe that is excellent for beginners and seasoned users alike. I expect to use it for a long time and plan to add the bed extension. I am currently turning furniture legs. Future plans include bowls, plates & maybe a jug, or two.

My lathe arrived in good condition, except that the lower belt cover was broken (fault of the delivery company, no doubt). I fixed that and set it up. The centers aligned very nearly perfect and everything was tight. So I started turning. I have turned bowls, boxes, spindle shapes, honey dippers, lamps, and parallel sided {cylindrical} knot-tying mandrels. My widest bowl was 9 1/2&quot; diameter! my longest piece has been just over 12&quot;. I have turned with the drive center, faceplate, glue blocks, 4-jaw scroll chuck and screw chuck. I've turned lids on jamb chucks. I've drilled holes with it. The lathe is not overly heavy and will shake a bit with an out of balance piece, but mine is not bolted down yet and it works just fine. It is not a light-weight, though, and soaks up vibration pretty well. The belt change is not automatic, but is not really that hard. Move the belt first at the end where it steps smaller, then the end where it steps larger - that works like a charm. Reach under for the bottom pulley, and through the back for the top pulley. The real problem is the covers. They should be hinged instead of requiring full removal and replacement for each speed change. They are flimsy, too, but that is not a deal breaker. I may hinge mine. I've had it a month. I've turned dozens of pieces from skinny spindle work, to bowls from heavy oak. Everyone in the family (all five of us) has turned something. I added a 4-jaw chuck, 1/2&quot; drill chuck, and a set of round-bar rests. My only real complaint is that the motor does get hot. It does not seem to overheat, but it gets very hot and lots of dust and shavings fall on it. I keep it clean! This lathe is a good deal for the hobbiest or learner. It might even be good for more serious folks who need a smaller machine.

Received this lathe as a Christmas gift, first time I had ever used one. I've turned a few pens, a small bowl, a pencil holder, and some other test pieces. So far, I have nothing but good to say. Seems to be very accurate, and runs smooth. May invest in the extension table down the road. A good product, and I have no qualms about recommending this to others looking to get started in wood turning.

I picked this up on sale as an entry level lathe, mostly for turning molds for sand casting. So far I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have noticed a few things that force me to take away a star. -The belt provided (as mentioned in other posts) is not a quality belt, I am waiting for mine to break and hopefully I will be able to get a replacement in stock before that happens. -The manual is a joke. It was not written by a technical writer of any skill. -The motor is mounted very close to the frame making it a small annoyance to keep it clear for ventilation purposes. -And lastly and possibly the biggest con to this lathe, I have noticed that the tail stock will slip as pressure is applied by the center. This could probably be solved by taking a mallet to the locking lever. Overall I have a working lathe and I am happy. - If you purchase this lathe to get into turning or only to do small things, it should be more than adequate. However to compare this lathe to a Jet lathe is just unfair. It's like comparing a 83 honda to a 2013 Ferrari. They aren't even in the same class.

Had this lathe about a month now. Used it very much already and it is great! I don't get some of the reviews that I read prior to my purchase as mine is perfectly true, no slop or play, belt change simple, heavy solid unit. Does not vibrate or move at all on workbench surface. When you get it, it is covered with cosmoline which is normal, just take your time setting up and clean everything with alcohol. Yes the instructions are minimal but what all do you need, its pretty self explanatory. Mine came with bed extension which is great! I do wish that owners manual had phone number for parts as I would like to have extra belt just in case. Highly recommend this lathe!

I purchased this lathe because my Nova lathe died just before Xmas and I had projects to get completed. I had wanted, but not needed a mini lathe until this happened. I purchased this lathe and came home and produced 21 spindle turnings and a small bowl with it in the first week of ownership. Take a little time and clean up some of the rough edges on the hold down bolts and lube up the tail stock and you will have a great lathe for the money.

Just got this lathe. Turned three projects so far over a week. Compared to other &quot;cheap&quot; lathes, this one seems great. and it's half the price of other popular brands. They saved money with making the headstock spindle and bolt plate from iron, making the belt change doors screw down plastic and the paint isn't glossy. It doesn't have a quick shutoff paddle type switch. These belt change doors are in the same places as all of the 4 other brands I've seen including Jet - so belt changes are equally difficult. The door likes to swing closed if you don't screw it tight again in an open position: fix - I placed a rare earth magnet on the outside of the door and when I pivot it up... it stays put. I may even permonantly replace the thumb screw hold down and glue the magnet in its place. Out of the box: The spindle alignment was off by .25mm. loosinging the headstock to rail bolts and pressing against the back rail and retightened provided EXACT alignment. The belt pullies were out of alignment by 3/8&quot;. Quick adjust with allen wrench fixed that {and would. It was oil covered as expected. I ran it in a cold (40 degree) garage every time without problems. We'll have to see if the motor gets hot in summer. It's nicely quiet, though minimally louder that the Jet mini lathes. So far it's beyond my expectation. I plan to revise this after more extensive use to see how it holds up over time.

This Lathe was a Christmas 2008 present which I asked for. I will make it short since the comments before me covered a lot of my concerns:1) This is my first lathe and it was very easy to to put together and start right away making pens, ice cream scoops, BBQ handles. 2) It is important to clean/file off the paint on the tool rest where the skew slides across and to file down the area where your index finger slides against the rest. Your index finger and skew will glide across the rest easily without catching, this makes all the difference in the world.3) Turning a 36 inch cane is very difficult without a a spindle support. I have not found one for the Excelsior model, however there are plans so you can make your own in lathe books.4) I have not found any accessories that fit this lathe. The best help was from the Rockler store employees who had the best suggestions on what accessories would work. I would recommend this lathe for a beginner or a person who need a small lathe for a reasonable price.

This lathe looked like it was the ideal tool for a beginner like me. However, when I received the product, I was surprised to find that the product did not come with an instruction manual. According to Rockler's tech support, apparently lathes don't come with such manuals. It took me several hours searching Rockler's website as well as some good guesses but I'm pretty sure I finally figured out how to use it. A lot of time and frustration could have been saved if the product came instructions. Now that I've had a chance to use it, it really is a great tool! So, good product but poor documentation.

I turned one bowl and three pens on this lathe. The pens looked like they turned on center, but the finish was off so much that a 1/8&quot; stripe wouldn't polish down one side. The lip of the bowl had one side that was narrower than the other. I made sure that the center of the tail stock was lining up with the center of the head stock and that they were on horizontal axis, too. When I tested the runout of the spindle, it was very bad. It tested to be off by 1/8&quot; from center (a 16th each side)at an extension of 6&quot; from the end of the spindle. Other people have had good luck with this lathe, I did not.

I purchased this lathe at my local store on sale. I set it up in my shop and was amazed at how clean the imported machine was. There was none of the usual grease and anti rust treatment to clean up. I turned it on to make sure it ran, then let it sit until the next weekend when I could actually have time to work with it. I turned a bottle stopper and it turned out nice. I though the motor was&nbsp;very hot though. Returned the next morning to work on another project, turned on the lathe to test my new upgraded live center. It heated up and stopped running. I'm didn't even mess with it. I boxed it up and took it back along with the pen mandrel I bought.

I've had this lathe for a few years now and for everything I needed it to do, it did well. For the price, I couldn't justify spending anymore for a lathe unless I wanted more features. It's not my dream lathe for sure, but it does the job it was designed to do.

This is my first lathe. Other posts not withstanding, it runs true and speed changes are easy. The extension bed came with it during a special sale but as I only turn small items, I've never used it. The manual was horrible but as I was learning, I needed some additional books anyway so no big deal. I've turned pens, bottle stoppers and bowls. Never had to buy any additional equipment except a pen Mandrel. Perhaps I may one day move up to a bigger lathe but for now, the Excelsior is wonderful! Great for beginner turners.

I bought this lathe on sale and figured I would give it a try. I have now had it for a couple of months and use it daily I use it mainly to turn pens and have not had any problems for the money you can not go wrong I am very happy with it.

So far I have only used this lathe to turn pens and other small stock, but for the money it has performed exceptionally. Manual speed adjustment with belts and pulleys is a pain, but variable speed units are unreliable until you get into the nearly $1,000 range.

I have two of these machines. The motor quit on the first one and I had to get a job finished. This is the best machine for the dollar. I'll get someone to replace the motor on the first machine and maybe carry it outside to turn fun stuff.

Extremely pleased with this lathe. Bought the extension at the same time. It's a very heavy, sturdy machine and I haven't been disappointed with it's performance at all. For the money spent, I don't know that you could beat this lathe. I wasn't too put out with the sparse instruction booklet. There are plenty of resources on the 'net and otherwise, plus I enjoyed simply getting in there and practicing turning items. Level of experience: new to turning, moderately experienced with a variety of power and hand tools.

I bought this lathe three weeks ago after shopping them for a year. I was hooked on turning pens by a friend and did my due diligence in research. For the price this is a solid unit and the guys at my local store assured me they can support any equipment issues that may arise. I got the lathe home and out of the box. There were minor damages to the box however, due to proper packing materials the lathe was not damaged. Took about twenty minutes to look it over and double check a couple of set screws, I'm a fleet maintenance manager it's habit, plugged the lathe in and it ran as expected. Solid piece of equipment and the guys at my store have been great getting me started! Great lathe to get started with.

This was a Christmas present and could not be more happy with the lathe. Works very well have placed large demand on the lathe and no problems. Took large wood blanks and turned them down perfect. I have heard some problems with over heating on the motor. I have run the lathe very hard on several occasions and had NO PROBLEM at all. Would highly recommend this to anyone that wants to start turning and does not want to spend $1000.00 to get going.

very nice small lathe. quiet, smooth and does not move around when using it. easy to setup and use. for the money, in my opinion it is an excellent choice. I would recommend this lathe to take with you wherever you go. I bought it to take camping and love using it under the canopy of the camper.

I purchased this lathe and the bed extension with turning spindels in mind. so far I have had no trouble with it and it works fine.Anyone thinking about purchasing this lathe could not go wrong as for the money it's a great value.

This is my first wood lathe. The quality is good and the machine performs well. I was impressed that the centers aligned very well, the head stock is sturdy and although it only has 1/2HP, it cuts very well without stalling even on roughing cuts.

I researched midi-lathes online for over 1 year before I ordered an Excelsior 1018. I use it sparingly so have not had any overheating problems with the motor. The tailstock is solid and it is easy to change the belt location for speed selections. This is a great entry level lathe for light work. I have turned small spindle parts for a shipwheel lamp all the way up to a 3-pound oak mallet. It works great. I would recommend it as a first lathe.

My last experience with turning anything was 40 years ago in high school metal shop. I did want to be able to turn handles & feet for some of the boxes I make, plus be able to turn boxes, bowls and bracelets.The Excelsior mini lathe was recommended by the folks at Rockler Seattle as a great starter lathe. I was also shown entry level lathes from Nova and Jet. The Excelsior was on a Black Friday special, which knocked off about $50 and included Rockler's 3 piece carbide tipped pen turner's set, valued at about $130. It took me about 15 minutes to unpack and set up on my work bench. I checked the alignment of the centers, made sure on was on the slowest speed and quickly made turned a mallet handle and a few bracelets. Speed changes are accomplished easily by loosening the motor assembly (using a quick release lever), moving 2 plastic pulley covers put of the way and moving the belt to the appropriate pulley set. This is advertised as being able to turn a piece 10" diameter by 18" long, but the banjo will limit this to about 7½" inches in diameter (though it can be moved around to get somewhat larger).Although this lacks some features found on higher priced models (spindle locking, indexing and adjustable speed), it is a great starter lathe. It is well made and should last a long while.

I had no wood lathe experience before this purchase and have found it fits my needs as a beginner. Turned several pens then began boxes and have turned 3. The first 2 were lidless and the 3rd had a lid.Have purchased several attachments including a replacement Rockler tool rest, a chuck, a drill chuck and centers.When I have the time I head to my shop and begin turning. Very relaxing.

The lathe has lived up to my highest expectations so far. The motor has ample power for my type turnings: pens, bowls, etc. Super easy to change belts, just loosen the knurled knob on each cover plate, raise and turn the plate to the side, raise the motor, then shift the belt. The castings were smooth and precise, except for a minor rough spot on one turn wheel. The low sales price makes this a very affordable machine.

I have never turned anything, never even turned one on. I have been doing woodwork for over 20 years and this was something I wanted to try out. The Black Friday deal made this happen! I bought this lathe with the free pen turning set. WOW!!! Impressed with how easy it was to get started!!! I am sure I have more to learn but this was a fantastic purchase and can't wait to explore this craft fully!!!

Been using this lathe for 7 years. It is great! Just bought a second one. I will use one just for squaring pen blanks and the other for turning. Price is great. Precision is perfect. No problems what so ever.

I'm very pleased with this machine, it runs quiet and smoothly. The headstock and tailstock are aligned perfectly. I have only tried some small projects so far and am happy with the performance. Will be adding a chuck for some bowl turning.

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Our price is lower than the manufacturer's "minimum advertised price." As a result, we cannot show you the price in catalog or the product page.

You have no obligation to purchase the product once you know the price. You can simply remove the item from your cart.

What People are Saying:

I have been using Rockler for years, your products are always the best that can be purchased and your prices are very reasonable. Ann you have always done your best to make me feel as though I was your very best customer. Thank you for great service."

- Daniel F.

What People are Saying:

I have been using Rockler for years, your products are always the best that can be purchased and your prices are very reasonable. Ann you have always done your best to make me feel as though I was your very best customer. Thank you for great service."